𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒? × ɱαɾƙԋყυƈƙ

↬ Chapter 18 ↫

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3rd person

With the bouquet in his left and Mark's hand in his other, the older pulled Donghyuck through the little town, both enjoying the calm atmosphere.

Additionally you could hear music playing here and there as buskers were playing on their beloved instruments, some kids dancing happily in front of the musicians and their parents helplessly trying to get them away to finally go home after a tiring day of shopping.

"Damn, it's really getting darker and darker." Mark mumbled to himself as he witnesses the dark grey clouds hanging on the not so blue anymore sky.

"So it's going to rain?" "Probably." The raven haired stated as they walked further down the street.

"It's already trickling and dripping, Mark." Commented the hazel haired while turning his head down to look at his hand which had a tiny water drop on it. "Should we get back or-" Donghyuck paused his speech, snapping his head into the kings direction, expecting an answer.

"No, it's too late now. The rain would get us if we're going now." "You're talking about rain as if it's the most poisonous thing on earth." Hyuck snorted resulting in the older to chuckle a bit, shaking his head.

"No, but you silly could catch a cold, and I don't want that." Mark stated as he stopped walking to look at the younger who just looked a bit flustered. The older then changed his course, turning into a smaller side street as the little trickle began to transform to bigger raindrops.

As soon as it started spitting like crazy, the rain met their clothes, soaking them and making it stick to their skins. The raindrops hit their skin softly, just to flow down to fall on the cold floor.

"Put your hood on, or else your hair will get all soaked and you really catch a cold." Spoke the older as he stopped tracks shortly and pulled the dark fabric over the youngers head, the latter panicking on the inside again.

Later, after they walked for a short period, the raven haired pulled the younger aside into an alley-like area which had an out of stone made canopy. It was pretty spacious and sheltered from the wind and rain.

The raindrops contributed to the mood, how they made a quiet and repeatedly sound as they hit a hard surface.

"We're staying here for a while. Getting into a tavern or shop would be too noticeable, everybody is there now and they would recognize me that close-up." The raven haired explained to which the younger just nodded.

Soon, after a while a standing and it getting quite uncomfortable, Mark decided to sit down on the paved ground, weight leaning on the wall behind him, the hazel haired just looking at him weirdly.

"You're sitting on the floor?" The prince questioned with a raised brow, for him a king was too noble to do that and he as an king-to-be wasn't thinking of an idea like that either.

"Why shouldn't I? You should though." The raven haired stated as he patted the cobbled and stony ground in front of him lightly.

Giving it a quick thought, Haechan settled down sitting cross-legged in front of the older, still looking like a confused puppy.

The older then just simply turned the hazel around, pulling the smaller closer to himself by his waist, proceeding to place Donghyuck's head against his chest, the latter sitting between Mark's legs.

Being too flustered and startled by the older's sudden action, Haechan tired to relax a bit, his body not being as tensed up as he was just before.

The hazel haired wanted to protest but decide not to in the end. I mean, he wanted to make Mark fall for him so he could escape his home but somehow this right then was something he also wanted. He wanted to be embraced and wanted to be loved.

Sure the first plan was to make Mark choose him so he, Haechan, would have a better future without his toxic parents. Sure he would get in trouble some day for all that gender pretending thing and for making Mark fall for someone who he wasn't, but it would be better than running away or rotting in the eastern castle and having his parents controlling him like a puppet on strings.

But now, it just felt different. He really liked Mark, like a lot. But things were just so complicated.

What if Mark won't choose him? What if he fails? What if Mark won't love him back because he's pretending to be someone else, a girl?

"What's wrong?" The older whispered as he didn't wanted to overshadow the quiet relaxing sound the raindrops met a surface, bouncing back from the ground a bit. Raindrop after raindrop dripped from the grey and calm sky, cooling off a bit on the hot day.

"Oh, n-nothing. Why?" Asked Donghyuck surprised as he looked up a bit, lifting his head to try to look at the male behind him.

"You seem... tense." "It's fine, don't worry." The prince assured as he smiled sadly, looking forward again, also watching the little beats of water forming together into a big puddle in the distance, the water flowing down the little alley.

"Remember what I told you on the first day we met?" Mark asked as he leaned the youngers head a bit more backwards to his direction to place his nose on top of the youngers hair, smelling the sweet scent.

"What in particular?" The hazel haired giggled, head playing memories from that chaotic day. It felt like it was years ago, but it actually was just a few days ago.

"Whatever it is, you can talk to me." The raven haired spoke which made the younger recall that special moment,  cracking Haechan's heart a bit more. The reason here behind it was:

He was somehow lying to Mark.

And the worst part here is the hazel haired was fully aware of it. "Y-yeah, I know, I'm fine really." Haechan said again, the older just tightening his grib around the younger.

"Just remember I'm there for you." Mark said calmly as he place his right hand on the younger head, patting his head and steadily stroked through his strands.

The younger melted in the olders touch as he leaned into it even more, shivering a bit at the soft contact on top his head.

There was just the sound of the regular sound of the raindrops and the fast beating hearts, melting togheter into one rhythm.

"You know I've been thinking a lot lately." Mark whispered, his voice getting a bit of a raspy tone as he talked quietly, then he continued in the same low volume: "about the ball, of who to choose..."

"...And you know, I have to choose soon." to that Haechan just hummed, still enjoying the digits running against his scalp.

"So who is it?" Haechan asked curious after a long pause as the older wasn't continuing. Somehow he now really lost hope and the thought of Mark choosing someone else became stronger.

"Isn't it obvious?" The raven haired asked while chuckling, ruffling thought the hazel hair of the younger and messing it up slightly. The latter then raised himself up a bit and turned his head back to look at Mark who was sitting behind him.

"You obviously... so... will you be mine?"

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Uwu
Yes we stan fluff + a little bit angst in this household

Hope you have a good day ♡